Objective

An award for an industry leader, who had excelled in a leadership role in the agricultural and the deciduous fruit (pome and stone) environment over an extended period on a strategic level. The main purpose of this award is:

• To motivate industry leaders to commit themselves to excel in their leadership in strategic, management and/or operational industry activities and to set an example for other stakeholders.
• To promote the interests of the deciduous fruit producers on a national and international basis and to enhance the image, profile, and products of the deciduous fruit industry.
• To establish and maintain unity and collaboration within the fruit industry.

Objective

An award that gives recognition to any individual(s) who made an exceptional impact on the industry in any sphere. Including but not restricted to economics, transformation, training, governance, value chain, export/marketing, trade relations.

The main purpose of this reward is to:

• Motivate industry stakeholders to “go above and beyond” in their specific fields of expertise over an extended period.
• To acknowledge strategic impact on agriculture in general, but specifically the pome fruit and stone fruit industries.
• To establish pride and encourage excellence in the deciduous fruit industry.

Objective

An award that gives recognition to any person(s)/group(s) that made an impact in the transformation sphere of the deciduous fruit industry value chain; and showed exceptional performance and commitment.

The main purpose of this reward is to:

• Motivate people/groups that work in the transformation sphere of the deciduous fruit industry to commit themselves to continuously perform above expectations.
• To recognize people/groups in the deciduous (pome/stone) value chain as examples for their peers.
• To promote the interests of and work together with other deciduous fruit stakeholders and value chain players.
• To enhance the image, profile, and products of the deciduous fruit industry in general.

Objective

An award that gives recognition of excellence to any individual(s) in the sphere (project or programme) of research, science, and technology or in recognition of a lifetime contribution in science, research, and technology.

The main purpose of this award is:

• To motivate individuals and teams/programmes in the deciduous fruit industry to do research/ discover/invent/find or advise on solutions/products that will enhance the deciduous fruit industry’s progress and development.
• Motivate stakeholders in the sphere of research, technology, and science to commit themselves to perform above expectations.
• To enhance the image, profile and products of the deciduous fruit industry in general and in the global science and technology field.
• To increase profitability and return on investment for the industry.

Objective

A special award to a person(s) that has made an outstanding contribution to the deciduous fruit industry, either by long life service (min 20 years) or that achieved exceptional accolades in their area of expertise/work within the industry and industry service structures. Any current/previous industry officials and/or Hortgro member of staff who work within the industry, may be nominated.

The main purpose of this award is:

• To recognise the contribution of and to motivate individuals who work in the deciduous fruit industry to commit themselves to a career within the industry and/or to excel and make an impact in their respective areas of work.
• To enhance the image of the deciduous fruit industry in general.
• To build human capital and industry knowledge base.

Objective

The future of the South African deciduous fruit industry depends on how we respond to today and tomorrow’s environmental challenges. The Hortgro Footprint Award 2026 celebrates producers, exporters, packhouses and industry partners who are leading the way in sustainability, innovation and responsible use of natural resources.

We invite you to tell your story.

Share your sustainability journey — from the challenges you’ve faced to the measurable impact you’ve achieved. Show how your business is going beyond minimum standards to protect natural resources, improve efficiency, and build long-term resilience.

Have you implemented precision or regenerative practices? Developed innovative technologies? Found smarter ways to work in harmony with your microclimate and ecosystem? Use Integrated Pest Management as a blueprint for your crop production and protection practices? Are you measuring your carbon footprint or using carbon bookkeeping practices? Are you in the pome or stone fruit industry? We want to hear how you are reducing your environmental footprint while strengthening your business and reaping the economic rewards.

This is your opportunity to:

• Showcase real, measurable progress over time by describing your sustainability journey, including challenges and results. Summarise efforts and interventions across operations and improvements over time with any measurable impact.
• Highlight creative solutions to environmental challenges and show how your business has creatively addressed environmental issues and the impact of these initiatives.
• Demonstrate leadership in sustainable farming and production, and how you are going beyond minimum standards, and inspire others across the industry.
• Demonstrating innovation through development of new technologies and practices or adoption of practices that reduce your environmental impact, such as precision agriculture, regenerative agriculture, interventions to improve efficiency of resources and how your business is working in harmony and in sync with your microclimate, your ecosystem and with nature.

Your efforts matter — not only for your business, but for the future of our industry and the environment we depend on.

Step forward. Share your impact. Inspire change.

Submit your entry for the Hortgro Footprint Award 2026 and help shape a more sustainable future for South African deciduous fruit.

Objective

An award for outstanding journalism in and on the deciduous fruit (pome/stone) industry. The deciduous fruit industry’s merit award for Journalism is focused to ensure continuous and constructive engagement between the fruit industry and the media.

The main purpose of this award is:

• To motivate the media to convey the functions and activities of the industry as efficiently as possible to all role players in the target market.
• To promote the interests of the deciduous fruit producers on a national and international basis and to enhance the image and products of the fruit industry.
• To enhance the variety of excellent qualities and health value of fruit.
• To establish and maintain continuous unity and commitment within the fruit industry.

Considerations

The winner will be selected based on the following:

• Strategic: Articles, features and reports that could influence the future of the fruit industry in SA on the long term.
• Operational: Covering continuous activities of general agricultural activities.
• Hard news: short-term, hard-hitting news issues.
• Creativeness – Is the insertion new, original, and easy to read/understand?
• Best possible contribution to promote and enhance the image of the deciduous fruit industry.
• Dynamics, extent, and topicality of insertion.
• Is it well written along with the necessary technical finishing touches?